U.S. patent application number 14/574508 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-02 for fuel filler lid device.
This patent application is currently assigned to MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Yutaka FUJIWARA, Atsushi WAKAMATSU.
Application Number | 20150183316 14/574508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53480836 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150183316 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WAKAMATSU; Atsushi ; et
al. |
July 2, 2015 |
FUEL FILLER LID DEVICE
Abstract
In a fuel filler lid device provided on a vehicle body, capable
of protrusion and movement and having a door hook which locks a
fuel filler lid in a closed state by being urged in an extending
direction by a hook return spring and unlocks the fuel filler lid
by being contracted/operated by a door motor, a left-and-right wall
portion for regulating extension of the door hook at a first
position in a state locked by the door hook at a closed position is
provided on the fuel filler lid, and if it is detected by a door
opening/closing sensor for detecting a protrusion position of the
door hook that the door hook is at the first position for a
predetermined time, it is determined that the fuel filler lid is in
the closed state, while if it is detected that the door hook is at
a second position protruding more than the first position for a
predetermined time, it is determined that the fuel filler lid is in
an open state.
Inventors: |
WAKAMATSU; Atsushi;
(Okazaki-shi, JP) ; FUJIWARA; Yutaka;
(Okazaki-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
53480836 |
Appl. No.: |
14/574508 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/426.24 ;
296/97.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2015/0546 20130101;
B60K 2015/0584 20130101; B60K 2015/0576 20130101; B60K 15/05
20130101; B60K 2015/053 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60K 15/05 20060101
B60K015/05; B60R 25/10 20060101 B60R025/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 26, 2013 |
JP |
2013-269972 |
Dec 26, 2013 |
JP |
2013-269973 |
Dec 26, 2013 |
JP |
2013-269974 |
Claims
1. A fuel filler lid device comprising: a fuel filler lid
configured to open/close a fuel filler of a fuel tank of a vehicle;
a locking portion provided on a vehicle body and movable in a
direction to protrude to a side of the fuel filler lid from the
vehicle body; a movable portion configured to make the locking
portion movable; a regulation portion provided on the fuel filler
lid and regulating a protrusion position of the locking portion at
a first position with the fuel filler lid at a closed position; a
detection portion configured to detect the protrusion position of
the locking portion; and a determination portion configured to
determine that the fuel filler lid is in a closed state if the
detection portion detects that the locking portion is at the first
position for a predetermined time and configured to determine that
the fuel filler lid is in the open state if it is detected that the
locking portion is at a second position protruding more than the
first position for a predetermined time.
2. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 1, wherein the
fuel filler lid is provided with a bracket; the bracket has a bent
portion; and the regulation portion regulates the locking portion
by the locking portion brought into contact with the bent portion
and locks the fuel filler lid in a closed state.
3. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 2, wherein the
locking portion unlocks the bracket at a third position with a
protrusion amount shorter than that of the first position; and the
determination portion determines that the fuel filler lid is during
a switching operation from closed to open when the third position
is detected by the detection portion.
4. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 3, wherein the
detection portion outputs a first output at the first position and
outputs a second output at the second position or the third
position; and the second output is higher than the first
output.
5. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 1, wherein the
fuel filler lid device includes a first urging portion urging the
fuel filler lid to an open direction; and the movable portion has a
second urging portion urging the locking portion in a protrusion
direction.
6. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 1, wherein the
movable portion has an actuator configured to operate the locking
portion in an anti-protrusion direction against an urging force of
the second urging portion; and the determination portion determines
an open/closed state of the fuel filler lid on the basis of an
output of the detection portion and an operation of the
actuator.
7. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 1, wherein the
fuel tank includes a sealing valve configured to seal the fuel
tank; and an unlock control portion configured such that, when an
unlock operation portion is operated, the sealing valve is
opened/operated and a pressure in the fuel tank is reduced to a
predetermined value or less, and the locking portion is operated in
the anti-protrusion direction so as to unlock the fuel filler lid
is provided.
8. A fuel filler lid device comprising: a fuel filler lid
configured to open/close a fuel filler of a fuel tank of a vehicle;
a locking portion provided on a vehicle body and capable of
protrusion and movement; a movable portion configured to make the
locking portion movable; a regulation portion provided on the fuel
filler lid and regulating a protrusion position of the locking
portion at a first position with the fuel filler lid at a closed
position and locking by locking the fuel filler lid at the closed
position; an unlock control portion configured to operate the
movable portion by an operation of an unlock operation portion and
moving the locking portion in an anti-protrusion direction from the
first position so as to unlock the fuel filler lid; a detection
portion configured to detect a position of the locking portion; and
an abnormality determination portion configured to determine
abnormality on the basis of a change of a detection result of the
detection portion after the operation of the unlock operation
portion.
9. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 8, wherein the
detection portion outputs a first output if the locking portion is
at the first position and outputs a second output if the locking
portion is at a second position protruding more than the first
position or a third position on an anti-protrusion side of the
first position; and the abnormality determination portion
determines a failure of the movable portion if the output from the
detection portion maintains the first output even though control of
an operation of the movable portion is started by an operation of
the unlock operation portion.
10. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 9, wherein the
movable portion has a second urging portion urging the locking
portion to a protrusion direction; and the abnormality
determination portion determines abnormality of the second urging
portion if the output from the detection portion becomes the second
output from the first output and is maintained at the second output
when the movable portion is operated by the operation of the unlock
operation portion.
11. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 9, wherein the
movable portion has a second urging portion urging the locking
portion to a protrusion direction and an actuator configured to
operate the locking portion in an anti-protrusion direction against
an urging force of the second urging portion; and the abnormality
determination portion determines that the fuel filler lid is in a
stuck state if the output from the detection portion is outputted
in order from the first output to the second output and the first
output and is maintained at the first output when the actuator is
operated by an operation of the unlock operation portion.
12. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 8, wherein the
abnormality determination portion makes abnormality determination
on the basis of output time of an output from the detection portion
when the operation of the movable portion is controlled by the
operation of the unlock operation portion.
13. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 8, wherein the
fuel tank is a sealed tank; and the unlock control portion reduces
a pressure in the fuel tank to a predetermined value or less when
the unlock operation portion is operated and then, unlocks the fuel
filler lid by operating the movable portion so that the locking
portion is moved to an anti-protrusion direction.
14. A fuel filler lid device comprising: a fuel filler lid
configured to open/close a fuel filler of a fuel tank of a vehicle;
a locking portion provided on a vehicle body and movable in a
direction protruding from the vehicle body; a forced unlock portion
configured to unlock the fuel filler lid by forcedly moving the
locking portion manually; a detection portion configured to detect
a position of the locking portion and configured to output the
detection result; and a forced unlock determination portion
determining that the fuel filler lid is unlocked by the forced
unlock portion on the basis of output time of an output from the
detection portion.
15. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 14, wherein the
fuel filler lid device includes: a regulation portion provided on
the fuel filler lid and regulating a protrusion position of the
locking portion at a first position with the fuel filler lid at a
closed position and locking the fuel filler lid by locking the same
at the closed position; the detection portion outputs a first
output if the locking portion is at the first position regulated by
the regulation portion and outputs a second output if the locking
portion is at a third position closer to an anti-protrusion side
than the first position; and the forced unlock determination
portion determines that the fuel filler lid is unlocked by the
forced unlock portion if output time of the second output after the
first output outputted from the detection portion exceeds first
predetermined time when the fuel filler lid is opened.
16. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 15, wherein the
fuel filler lid device includes: an unlock control portion
configured to unlock the fuel filler lid by operating the locking
portion in an anti-protrusion direction from the first position by
an operation of an unlock operation portion; and an alarm portion
configured to make an alarm if the detection portion outputs the
second output for second predetermined time or more even though the
unlock operation portion is not operated.
17. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 16, wherein the
fuel filler lid device includes: an alarm regulation portion
configured to regulate an operation of the alarm portion if it is
determined by the forced unlock determination portion that the fuel
filler lid is unlocked by the forced unlock portion.
18. The fuel filler lid device according to claim 16, wherein the
fuel tank is a sealed tank; the fuel filler lid device includes a
movable portion configured to make the locking portion movable; and
the unlock control portion unlocks the fuel filler lid by reducing
a pressure in the fuel tank to a predetermined value or less and
then, by operating the movable portion so as to move the locking
portion to an anti-protrusion direction if the unlock operation
portion is operated.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a fuel filler lid device
and in more detail, relates to an opened/closed state detection
portion of a fuel filler lid.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In a prior-art fuel storing device mounted on a vehicle and
the like, as a technology for preventing emission of a fuel
evaporative gas evaporated in a fuel tank into the atmosphere, a
canister communicating with the fuel tank and a sealing valve
controlled so as to seal the fuel tank are provided in a path
having the fuel tank and the canister communicate with each other,
and the sealing valve is opened in fueling so that the fuel
evaporative gas flows out toward the canister and the fuel
evaporative gas is adsorbed by the canister.
[0005] If the fuel tank is sealed by the sealing valve as in this
fuel storing device, the fuel in the fuel tank evaporates with a
rise of an outside air temperature, and a pressure in the fuel tank
might become high due to the fuel evaporative gas. Moreover, there
is a concern that the fuel evaporative gas is emitted into the
atmosphere with opening of a lid of a fuel filler of the fuel tank
in fueling.
[0006] Thus, in order to prevent emission of the fuel evaporative
gas into the atmosphere involved in fueling, a fuel filler lid
device which can lock the fuel filler lid covering a fuel filler of
the fuel tank in the closed state is provided, and when an opening
operation of the fuel filler lid is performed by a switch or the
like, the sealing valve is opened before the fuel filler lid is
unlocked so that the fuel evaporative gas is made to flow out and
the pressure in the fuel tank is sufficiently lowered (see Japanese
Patent No. 4082263).
[0007] Vehicles of a type having a fuel filler lid include those
having an opening/closing sensor for detecting opened/closed state
of the fuel filler lid. For example, at a time other than fueling
such as during vehicle running, if an open state of the fuel filler
lid is detected, an alarm prompting closing of the fuel filler lid
is performed.
[0008] Then, as in the above-described Patent Literature 1, in the
fuel filler lid device which can lock an opened/closed state of the
fuel filler lid, it is desired that detection of both the open
state and a closed state of the fuel filler lid can be made with a
compact configuration with a smaller number of components.
[0009] Moreover, in the fuel filler lid device as in the
above-described Patent Literature 1, an actuator for unlocking the
fuel filler lid is provided.
[0010] In the fuel filler lid device having the actuator and the
opening/closing sensor as above, it is desired that a failure of
the actuator, abnormality such that the fuel filler lid is stuck or
the like can be detected with a simple configuration.
[0011] Moreover, in order to handle a situation in which the
actuator for unlocking the fuel filler lid fails and the fuel
filler lid cannot be brought into the open state, there is a device
provided with an emergency lever (forced unlocking portion) which
can manually unlock the fuel filler lid.
[0012] However, in the fuel filler lid device having the sensor for
detecting the opened/closed state of the fuel filler lid as above,
if the fuel filler lid is unlocked manually by the emergency lever,
there is a concern that the opened/closed state of the fuel filler
lid cannot be detected normally and an unnecessary alarm or the
like is given.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a
fuel filler lid device which can detect various opened/closed
states or abnormality of the fuel filler lid with a compact
configuration with a smaller number of components.
[0014] In order to achieve the above-described object, the fuel
filler lid device according to the invention of the present
application has a configuration provided with a fuel filler lid for
opening/closing a fuel filler of a fuel tank of a vehicle, a
locking portion provided on a vehicle body and movable in a
direction to protrude to a side of the fuel filler lid from the
vehicle body, a movable portion for making the locking portion
movable, a regulation portion provided on the fuel filler lid and
regulating a protrusion position of the locking portion at a first
position with the fuel filler lid at a closed position, a detection
portion for detecting the protrusion position of the locking
portion, and a determination portion for determining that the fuel
filler lid is in a closed state if the detection portion detects
that the locking portion is at the first position for a
predetermined time and for determining that the fuel filler lid is
in the open state if it is detected that the locking portion is at
a second position protruding more than the first position for a
predetermined time.
[0015] As a result, if the locking portion is at the first
position, it can be determined that the fuel filler lid is locked
by the locking portion and that the fuel filler lid is in the
closed state. Moreover, if the locking portion is at the second
position protruding more than the first position, extension of the
filler lid is not regulated by the regulation portion, and thus, it
can be determined that the fuel filler lid is not locked by the
locking portion. Therefore, if the detection portion detects that
the locking portion is at the first position for a predetermined
time, it can be determined that the fuel filler lid is in the
closed state, while if it is detected that the locking portion is
at the second position for a predetermined time, it can be
determined that the fuel filler lid is in the open state and thus,
both the open state and the closed state of the fuel filler lid can
be detected by one detection portion.
[0016] Moreover, since the detection portion detects the protrusion
position of the locking portion, locking of the lid and the
open/closed state of the fuel filler lid can be detected
altogether, and thus, there is no need to provide a new sensor or
the like at the fuel filler lid portion and an increase in a cost
can be suppressed by a compact configuration.
[0017] Moreover, the fuel filler lid device according to the
invention of the present application is configured to include the
fuel filler lid for opening/closing the fuel filler of the fuel
tank of the vehicle, the locking portion provided on the vehicle
body and capable of protrusion and movement, the movable portion
for making the locking portion movable, the regulation portion
provided on the fuel filler lid and for regulating the protrusion
position of the locking portion provided with the fuel filler lid
at the closed position and for locking it at the closed position,
an unlock control portion for unlocking the fuel filler lid by
operating the movable portion by an operation of an unlock
operation portion and by moving the locking portion in a
counter-protrusion direction from the first position, a detection
portion for detecting a position of the locking portion, and an
abnormality determination portion making abnormality determination
on the basis of a change of a detection result of the detection
portion after the operation of the unlock operation portion is
performed.
[0018] As a result, if the fuel filler lid device is normal, by
means of movement of the locking portion in the counter-protrusion
direction from the first position by operation of the unlock
operation portion, the detection result of the detection portion
changes, and the fuel filler lid is unlocked.
[0019] Then, if the change of the detection result of the detection
portion is different from that in a normal state, the abnormality
determination portion can determine that unlocking of the fuel
filler lid is abnormal since movement of the locking portion is
prevented, and the abnormality of the fuel filler lid device can be
detected with a simple configuration.
[0020] Moreover, the fuel filler lid device according to the
invention of the present application is configured to include the
fuel filler lid for opening/closing the fuel filler of the fuel
tank of the vehicle, the locking portion provided on the vehicle
body and movable in the direction protruding from the vehicle body,
a forced unlock portion for unlocking the fuel filler lid by
forcedly moving the locking portion manually, the detection portion
for detecting the position of the locking portion and outputting
the detection result, and a forced unlock determination portion for
determining that the fuel filler lid is unlocked by the forced
unlock portion on the basis of an output time of an output from the
detection portion.
[0021] As a result, if the output time of the output from the
detection portion is largely different from the output time at
normal time, it can be determined that the fuel filler lid is
unlocked by the forced unlock portion. Since the detection portion
detects the position of the locking portion, it can be used for
detection of the open/closed state of the fuel filler lid, and
unlock of the fuel filler lid by the forced unlock portion can be
detected with a simple configuration by sharing the detection
portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is an outline configuration diagram of a fuel storing
device of a vehicle provided with a fuel filler lid device
according to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating a structure of
the fuel filler lid device according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0025] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating a relationship
between a position of a door hook and an output of a door
opening/closing sensor.
[0026] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating a moved state of
the door hook in a fully closed state of a fuel filler lid.
[0027] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating the moved state
of the door hook in a switching state from closed to open of the
fuel filler lid.
[0028] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating the moved state
of the door hook during an opening operation of the fuel filler
lid.
[0029] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating the moved state
of the door hook in an open state of the fuel filler lid.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a time chart illustrating a change of an output of
a door opening/closing sensor when the fuel filler lid is open in
normal time.
[0031] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view illustrating the moved state
of the door hook and the fuel filler lid at a failure of a door
motor.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a time chart illustrating the change of the
output of the door opening/closing sensor at a failure of the door
motor.
[0033] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view illustrating the moved state
of the door hook and the fuel filler lid when a hook return spring
is abnormal.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a time chart illustrating the change of the
output of the door opening/closing sensor when the hook return
spring is abnormal and the fuel filler lid is stuck closed.
[0035] FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating the moved state
of the door hook and the fuel filler lid when the fuel filler lid
is stuck closed.
[0036] FIG. 14 is a time chart illustrating the change of the
output of the door opening/closing sensor when the fuel filler lid
is stuck closed and when being stuck during the opening
operation.
[0037] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view illustrating the moved state
of the door hook and the fuel filler lid when being stuck of the
fuel filler lid during the opening operation.
[0038] FIG. 16 is a time chart illustrating the change of the
output of the door opening/closing sensor in other abnormal
times.
[0039] FIG. 17 is an explanatory view illustrating the moved state
of the door hook and the fuel filler lid when the fuel filler lid
is opened by an operation of an emergency lever.
[0040] FIG. 18 is a time chart illustrating the change of the
output of the door opening/closing sensor when the fuel filler lid
is opened by the operation of the emergency lever.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] A fuel filler lid device 70 of the present invention will be
explained below on the basis of the attached drawings.
[0042] FIG. 1 is an outline configuration diagram of a fuel storing
device of a vehicle provided with the fuel filler lid device 70
according to the present invention.
[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fuel storing device according
to this embodiment roughly includes an engine (internal combustion
engine) 10 mounted on a vehicle, a fuel storing portion 20 storing
a fuel, a fuel evaporative gas treatment portion 30 for treating a
fuel evaporative gas which is an evaporative gas of the fuel
evaporated in the fuel storing portion 20, an electronic control
unit (hereinafter referred to as an ECU) (a determination portion,
an unlock control portion, an abnormality determination portion, a
forced unlock determination portion, an alarm regulation portion)
50 which is a controller for comprehensive control of the vehicle,
a fuel filler lid 23 which is a lid of a fuel filler 22 provided on
a vehicle body of the vehicle, a momentary operation type fuel
filler lid switch 61 (an unlock operation portion) for operating an
opening operation of the fuel filler lid 23, a door opening/closing
sensor 62 (a detection portion) for detecting opening/closing of
the fuel filler lid 23, a display 63 (alarm portion) for displaying
a vehicle state and the like, a momentary operation type main
switch 64 for connecting/disconnecting a main power supply of the
vehicle, and a lid lock mechanism 65 for locking the fuel filler
lid 23 in a closed state.
[0044] The engine 10 is a gasoline engine of an intake passage
injection type (Multi Point Injection: MPI). In the engine 10, an
intake passage 11 for taking in air into a combustion chamber of
the engine 10 is provided. In the intake passage 11, an intake
pressure sensor 14 for detecting an internal pressure of the intake
passage 11 is provided. On a downstream of the intake passage 11, a
fuel injection valve 12 for injecting a fuel into an intake port of
the engine 10 is provided. To the fuel injection valve 12, a fuel
pipeline 13 is connected, and the fuel is supplied.
[0045] The fuel storing portion 20 has a fuel tank 21 for storing
the fuel, the fuel filler 22 which is a fuel inlet into the fuel
tank 21, a fuel pump 24 for supplying the fuel from the fuel tank
21 to the fuel injection valve 12 through the fuel pipeline 13, a
pressure sensor 25 for detecting an internal pressure of the fuel
tank 21, and a float valve, not shown, therein, a fuel cut-off
valve 26 for preventing outflow of the fuel from the fuel tank 21
to a fuel evaporative gas treatment portion 30 by an action of the
float valve, a leveling valve 27 for controlling a liquid level in
the fuel tank 21 in fueling, and an orifice having an inner
diameter (.phi.1.0 mm, for example) smaller than an inner diameter
of a vapor pipeline 38, a purge pipeline 39 and the like which will
be described later are provided, and the fuel storing portion 20 is
constituted by a 2-way valve 28 for limiting fueling when the fuel
tank 21 is in a full tank state with the fuel, that is, a fueling
amount in refueling and a fuel amount detecting device for
detecting a fuel amount in the fuel tank 21, not shown. Moreover,
the fuel evaporative gas generated in the fuel tank 21 is
discharged to an outside of the fuel tank 21 from a lower part of
the leveling valve 27 or to the outside of the fuel tank 21 through
the 2-way valve 28 and the leveling valve 27 by the fuel cut-off
valve 26.
[0046] The fuel evaporative gas treatment portion 30 is constituted
by a canister 31, a bypass valve 32, a sealing valve 33, a safety
valve 34, an air filter 35, a purge valve 37, the vapor pipeline
38, and the purge pipeline 39.
[0047] The canister 31 has an active coal therein. Moreover, in the
canister 31, an evaporative gas communication hole 31a through
which a fuel evaporative gas generated in the fuel tank 21 or the
fuel evaporative gas adsorbed by the active coal flows is provided.
Moreover, in the canister 31, an outside air intake hole 31b for
taking in outside air when the fuel evaporative gas adsorbed by the
active coal is to be emitted is provided. Moreover, the outside air
intake hole 31b is connected so as to communicate with the other
side of the air filter 35 with one side opened to the atmosphere
for preventing intrusion of rubbish from an outside.
[0048] In the bypass valve 32, a canister connection port 32a
connected so as to communicate with the evaporative gas
communication hole 31a of the canister 31 is provided. Moreover, in
the bypass valve 32, a vapor pipeline connection port 32b to which
the other end of the vapor pipeline 38 is connected so as to
communicate therewith, with one end connected so as to communicate
with the leveling valve 27 of the fuel tank 21 and a purge pipeline
connection port 32c to which the other end of the purge pipeline 39
is connected so as to communicate therewith, with one end thereof
connected so as to communicate with the intake passage 11 of the
engine 10 are provided. The vapor pipeline connection port 32b and
the purge pipeline connection port 32c of the bypass valve 32 are
connected to the vapor pipeline 38 and the purge pipeline 39,
respectively. Moreover, the bypass valve 32 is a normally open type
electromagnetic valve opened in a non-conducted state and brought
into a valve closed state when a driving signal is supplied from
the outside and a conducted state is brought about. The bypass
valve 32 allows the canister connection port 32a, the vapor
pipeline connection port 32b, and the purge pipeline connection
port 32c to communicate with each other in a non-conducted state
and in a valve open state so that inflow/outflow of the fuel
evaporative gas into/out of the canister 31 and inflow of the
atmosphere taken in by the air filter 35 into the vapor pipeline 38
and the purge pipeline 39 are made possible. Moreover, when the
driving signal is supplied from the outside and in the conducted
state and the valve closed state, the canister connection port 32a
is closed, and the bypass valve 32 allows only the vapor pipeline
connection port 32b and the purge pipeline connection port 32c to
communicate, and inflow/outflow of the fuel evaporative gas
into/out of the canister 31 and inflow of the atmosphere into the
vapor pipeline 38 and the purge pipeline 39 from the air filter 35
are made impossible. That is, the bypass valve 32 closes the
canister 31 in the valve closed state and opens the canister 31 in
the valve open state.
[0049] The sealing valve 33 is interposed in the vapor pipeline 38.
Moreover, the sealing valve 33 is of a normally closed type
electromagnetic valve closed in the non-conducted state and opened
when the driving signal is supplied from the outside and brought
into the conducted state. The sealing valve 33 closes the vapor
pipeline 38 in the non-conducted state and in the valve closed
state and opens the vapor pipeline 38 if the driving signal is
supplied from the outside and the conducted state and the valve
open state are brought about. That is, the sealing valve 33 closes
the fuel tank 21 into the sealed state in the valve closed state
and makes outflow of the fuel evaporative gas generated in the fuel
tank 21 to the outside of the fuel tank 21 impossible, while in the
valve open state, it makes outflow of the fuel evaporative gas into
the canister 31 possible.
[0050] The safety valve 34 is interposed in the vapor pipeline 38
in parallel with the sealing valve 33. The safety valve 34 is
opened when an internal pressure of the fuel tank 21 rises so as to
prevent burst of the fuel tank 21 by relieving the pressure to the
canister 31.
[0051] The purge valve 37 is interposed in the purge pipeline 39
between the intake passage 11 of the engine 10 and the bypass valve
32. Moreover, the purge valve 37 is a normally closed type
electromagnetic valve closed in the non-conducted state and opened
when the driving signal is supplied from the outside and brought
into the conducted state. The purge valve 37 closes the purge
pipeline 39 in the non-conducted state and in the valve closed
state and opens the purge pipeline 39 when the driving signal is
supplied from the outside and in the conducted state and in the
valve open state. That is, the purge valve 37 makes outflow of the
fuel evaporative gas from the fuel evaporative gas treatment
portion 30 to the engine 10 impossible in the valve closed state
and makes outflow of the fuel evaporative gas to the engine 10
possible in the valve open state.
[0052] The display 63 is to display a vehicle state and displays
time from the operation of the fuel filler lid switch 61 to
unlocking of the fuel filler lid 23, stop of the opening operation
of the fuel filler lid 23, the open/closed state of the fuel filler
lid 23 and the like, for example.
[0053] The ECU 50 is constituted by including an input/output
device, a storage device (a ROM, a RAM, a nonvolatile RAM and the
like), a central processing unit (CPU), a timer and the like.
[0054] To an input side of the ECU 50, the intake pressure sensor
14, the pressure sensor 25, the fuel filler lid switch 61, the door
opening/closing sensor 62, and the main switch 64 are connected,
and detection information from these sensors is inputted.
[0055] On the other hand, to an output side of the ECU 50, the fuel
injection valve 12, the fuel pump 24, the bypass valve 32, the
sealing valve 33, the purge valve 37, the display 63, and a door
motor 86 (an actuator, a movable portion) provided in the lid lock
mechanism 65 are connected.
[0056] The ECU 50 controls the operation of the fuel filler lid 23,
opening/closing of the bypass valve 32, the sealing valve 33, and
the purge valve 37, pressure in the fuel tank 21 and in the vapor
pipeline 38 and the purge pipeline 39 between the sealing valve 33
and the purge valve 37, and adsorption of the fuel evaporative gas
by the canister 31 and a flow of the fuel evaporative gas such as
outflow of the fuel evaporative gas adsorbed by the canister 31 to
the intake passage 11 of the engine 10 and the like on the basis of
detection information from various sensors.
[0057] Particularly, the ECU 50 unlocks the fuel filler lid 23 by
operating the door motor 86 when the fuel filler lid switch 61 is
operated so as to open the fuel filler lid 23, but if the pressure
in the fuel tank 21 detected by the pressure sensor 25 at this time
is higher than the atmospheric pressure by a predetermined value or
more, the ECU 50 opens the sealing valve 33 so as to allow the fuel
evaporative gas in the fuel tank 21 to flow out to the canister 31
and to lower the pressure to a predetermined value or less close to
the atmospheric pressure and then, operates the door motor 86 so as
to unlock and operates to open the fuel filler lid 23.
[0058] Subsequently, the fuel filler lid device 70 according to the
present invention will be explained.
[0059] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating a structure of
the fuel filler lid device 70 according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fuel filler lid device 70 of
this embodiment includes the fuel filler lid 23 which is a lid for
accommodating the fuel filler 22 provided on the vehicle body of
the vehicle, the above-described lid lock mechanism 65, and the
door opening/closing sensor 62.
[0061] The fuel filler 22 is arranged so as to protrude in an
accommodating chamber 71 provided on a rear fender 8 of the
vehicle. The fuel filler 22 is normally closed by a fuel cap 72
fastened capable of being released, connects a nozzle of a fuel
filling gun when being opened so as to enable fueling.
[0062] The accommodating chamber 71 is provided inside an opening
portion 73 provided on the rear fender 8. The accommodating chamber
71 is formed by being surrounded by a housing shaped accommodating
housing 74 and a lid-plate shaped fuel filler lid 23 closing the
opening portion 73 capable of being opened.
[0063] The fuel filler lid 23 is rotatably supported by a rotary
shaft 76 inside the rear fender 8 and extending in a vertical
direction of the vehicle through a rotary shaft bracket 23a.
Moreover, a spring 75 (first urging portion) is provided between
the rotary shaft bracket 23a and the accommodating housing 74, and
the spring 75 is provided so as to urge the fuel filler lid 23 in
an open direction at a closed position where the fuel filler lid 23
closes the opening portion 73.
[0064] On the fuel filler lid 23, a door bracket 80 (bracket)
formed by bending a flat plate is fixed to a rear part thereof. The
door bracket 80 is arranged so as to be located in the
accommodating chamber 71 when the fuel filler lid 23 is closed and
has a left-and-right wall portion 81 (a regulation portion, a bent
portion) substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the
fuel filler lid 23 extends on a cross section, a front-and-rear
wall portion 82 (a bent portion) extending substantially in
parallel with a direction in which the fuel filler lid 23 extends
by bending perpendicularly rearward from an inner side end portion
of the left-and-right wall portion 81, and a diagonal wall portion
83 bending by approximately 45 degrees from a rear end of the
front-and-rear wall portion 82 and extending inward and
forward.
[0065] The lid lock mechanism 65 is provided on a rear side of the
accommodating housing 74. The lid lock mechanism 65 includes a
rod-shaped door hook 85 (a locking portion) supported movably in a
vehicle longitudinal direction, the above-described door motor 86
for moving the door hook 85 in the vehicle longitudinal direction,
and an emergency lever 87 capable of forcedly moving the door hook
85 manually in the longitudinal direction. The door opening/closing
sensor 62 is constituted integrally with the lid lock mechanism 65
and can detect a moved position (protrusion position) of the door
hook 85.
[0066] The door hook 85 of the lid lock mechanism 65 is urged by a
hook return spring 88 (a second urging portion, a movable portion)
to the vehicle front side (the fuel filler lid 23 side) and extends
toward the vehicle front side and is configured such that a distal
end 85a protrudes into the accommodating chamber 71. By conducting
the door motor 86 (ON), the door hook 85 moves toward a vehicle
rear side against the urging of the hook return spring 88.
[0067] When the fuel filler lid 23 is closed, positions of the door
bracket 80 and the door hook 85 are set so that a side surface of
the door hook 85 protruding to the vehicle front side is located
substantially without a gap along an outer side surface of the
front-and-rear wall portion 82 of the door bracket 80. Therefore,
at this time, the front-and-rear wall portion 82 of the door
bracket 80 is brought into contact with the side surface of the
door hook 85, and opening movement of the fuel filler lid 23 is
regulated. Moreover, when the fuel filler lid 23 is closed,
conduction to the door motor 86 is turned OFF, and the distal end
85a of the door hook 85 is urged by the hook return spring 88 so as
to protrude toward the vehicle front side, but by being brought
into contact with a rear surface of the left-and-right wall portion
81 of the door bracket 80, the protrusion amount of the door hook
85 is set to be regulated at an intermediate position (first
position).
[0068] On the other hand, if the door motor 86 is conducted and the
door hook 85 is contracted/operated, a length in the longitudinal
direction of the door bracket 80 and a movable position of the door
hook 85 are set so that the distal end 85a of the door hook 85 is
moved rearward from the rear end of the front-and-rear wall portion
82.
[0069] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating a relationship
between a position of the door hook 85 and an output signal of the
door opening/closing sensor 62.
[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the door opening/closing sensor 62
can output two types of outputs, that is, a high voltage Hi (a
second output or a battery voltage, for example) and a low voltage
Lo (a first output or a value somewhat larger than 0, for
example).
[0071] The door opening/closing sensor 62 outputs the high voltage
Hi when the distal end 85a of the door hook 85 is located closer to
the vehicle front than a position A, using the position A somewhat
front of the left-and-right wall portion 81 of the door bracket 80
in the closed state and a position B somewhat front of the rear end
of the front-and-rear wall portion 82 as references, outputs the
low voltage Lo between (first position) the position A and the
position B and outputs the high voltage Hi when it is located on
the vehicle rear from the position B (third position). The door
opening/closing sensor 62 may have an output 0 instead of the low
voltage Lo but by setting the low voltage Lo, disconnection can be
detected if the output is 0. Moreover, the high voltage Hi and the
low voltage Lo may be vice versa, but power consumption can be
lowered by setting the output in the closed state of the fuel
filler lid 23 which is a normal time, that is, between the position
A and the position B at the low voltage Lo.
[0072] FIGS. 4 to 7 are explanatory views illustrating a
relationship between open/closed states of the fuel filler lid 23
and a moved state of the door hook 85, in which FIG. 4 illustrates
the closed state of the fuel filler lid 23, FIG. 5 for a switched
state from closed to open of the fuel filler lid 23 (when the door
motor 86 is ON), FIG. 6 for the opening operation of the fuel
filler lid 23, and FIG. 7 for the open state of the fuel filler lid
23.
[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the door motor 86 is OFF, the
door hook 85 protrudes to the vehicle front side by the hook return
spring 88, but in the closed state of the fuel filler lid 23, the
distal end 85a of the door hook 85 is brought into contact with the
left-and-right wall portion 81 of the door bracket 80, and the
protrusion amount is regulated. At this time, the distal end 85a of
the door hook 85 is located at the first position between the
position A and the position B, and thus, the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 becomes the low voltage Lo. Then, the ECU
50 determines that the fuel filler lid 23 is in the closed state
from the door motor 86 is OFF and the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 being the low voltage Lo. Moreover, if
the fuel filler lid 23 is in the closed state, the output of the
door opening/closing sensor 62 maintains the low voltage Lo, and
thus, the ECU 50 determines that the fuel filler lid 23 is in the
closed state if the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62
keeps the low voltage Lo for a predetermined time.
[0074] As illustrated in FIG. 5, if the door motor 86 is turned ON
in order to unlock the fuel filler lid 23 and the distal end 85a of
the door hook 85 moves to the vehicle rear side to the vicinity of
the rear end portion of the front-and-rear wall portion 82 of the
door bracket 80, the distal end 85a of the door hook 85 comes
closer to the vehicle rear side than the position B, and the output
of the door opening/closing sensor 62 becomes the high voltage Hi.
Therefore, the ECU 50 determines that it is during the switching
operation from closed to open of the fuel filler lid 23 from the
door motor 86 ON and the door opening/closing sensor 62 Hi.
[0075] If the door motor 86 is kept ON for a predetermined time (a
certain period of time) and the distal end 85a of the door hook 85
moves closer to the vehicle rear than the rear end of the
front-and-rear wall portion 82 of the door bracket 80, lock of the
door bracket 80 by the door hook 85 is unlocked, and the fuel
filler lid 23 starts to open by the spring 75. Then, as illustrated
in FIG. 6, the distal end 85a of the door hook 85 moves to the
vehicle front with open movement of the fuel filler lid 23 while
the distal end 85a of the door hook 85 is in contact with the
diagonal wall portion 83 of the door bracket 80, and the distal end
85a of the door hook 85 is located at the first position between
the position A and the position B, and the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 becomes the low voltage Lo. At this time,
the door motor 86 is OFF, and the ECU 50 determines that the fuel
filler lid 23 is during the opening operation from the door motor
86 OFF and the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 being
the low voltage Lo.
[0076] As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the fuel filler lid 23 is
brought into the open state, the distal end 85a of the door hook 85
leaves the diagonal wall portion 83. Since the door motor 86 is
OFF, the door hook 85 moves to the vehicle front side by the hook
return spring 88, the distal end 85a comes to a position closer to
the vehicle front side than the position A, and the output of the
door opening/closing sensor 62 becomes the high voltage Hi.
Therefore, the ECU 50 determines that the fuel filler lid 23 is in
the open state from the door motor 86 OFF and the door
opening/closing sensor 62 Hi. Moreover, if the fuel filler lid 23
is in the open state, the output of the door opening/closing sensor
62 maintains the high voltage Hi, and thus, if the output of the
door opening/closing sensor 62 maintains the high voltage Hi for a
predetermined time, the ECU 50 determines that the fuel filler lid
23 is in the open state.
[0077] As described above, the ECU 50 determines the open/closed
state of the fuel filler lid 23 from the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62.
[0078] Moreover, even during the switching operation from closed to
open of the door hook 85 or the opening operation of the fuel
filler lid 23, the state can be determined from the operation of
the door motor 86 and the output of the door opening/closing sensor
62. As described above, since the state during the switching
operation from closed to open can be detected, operation
confirmation of the lid lock mechanism 65 can be also performed,
and by displaying that the fuel filler lid 23 is during the opening
operation on the display 63, for example, even if the unlock of the
fuel filler lid 23 takes some time, false recognition as a failure
can be prevented.
[0079] In this embodiment, it is only necessary that the door
opening/closing sensor 62 is capable of two types of output, that
is, the high voltage Hi and the low voltage Lo, and thus, the door
opening/closing sensor 62 can be an inexpensive one. Both the open
state and the closed state of the fuel filler lid 23 can be
detected by the one door opening/closing sensor 62.
[0080] Moreover, since the door opening/closing sensor 62 is to
detect the protrusion position of the door hook 85, the lid lock
mechanism 65 including the door hook 85 and the door motor 86 can
be integrally unitized. As a result, there is no need to provide a
new sensor or the like on a mounting portion of the fuel filler lid
23, and the fuel filler lid device 70 which can detect
opening/closing of the fuel filler lid 23 can be made a compact
configuration, and an increase in a cost can be suppressed.
[0081] Moreover, in this embodiment, by providing the door bracket
80 formed by bending a flat plate on the fuel filler lid 23, the
left-and-right wall portion 81 for regulating the protrusion
position of the door hook 85 at the intermediate position (first
position) and the front-and-rear wall portion 82 for locking the
fuel filler lid 23 in the closed state are provided on the fuel
filler lid 23. Therefore, the left-and-right wall portion 81 and
the door hook 85 can be formed easily, the number of components can
be reduced, and the configuration can be simplified, and moreover,
since the door hook 85 is locked by the front-and-rear wall portion
82 of the door bracket 80, the fuel filler lid can be reliably
locked. Moreover, when the door hook 85 is locked, the distal end
of the door hook 85 is pressed onto the left-and-right wall portion
81 of the door bracket 80 by the urging force of the hook return
spring 88, and thus, the unlock by disturbance such as vibration
can be prevented.
[0082] Subsequently, failure detection of the fuel filler lid
device 70 will be explained.
[0083] In this embodiment, the ECU 50 detects a failure of the fuel
filler lid device 70 from the output of the door opening/closing
sensor 62 in the opening operation of the fuel filler lid 23.
[0084] FIG. 8 is a time chart illustrating a change of the output
of the door opening/closing sensor 62 when the fuel filler lid 23
is open.
[0085] FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating an operation state
of the door hook 85 and the fuel filler lid 23 at a failure of the
door motor 86. FIG. 10 is a time chart illustrating a change of the
output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 at a failure of the
door motor 86.
[0086] FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating the operation state
of the door hook 85 and the fuel filler lid 23 at an abnormality of
the hook return spring 88. FIG. 12 is a time chart illustrating a
change of the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 at the
abnormality of the hook return spring 88.
[0087] FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating the operation state
of the door hook 85 and the fuel filler lid 23 when the fuel filler
lid 23 is stuck closed. FIG. 14 is a time chart illustrating a
change of the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 when the
fuel filler lid 23 is stuck closed or when being stuck during the
opening operation. FIG. 15 is a sectional view illustrating the
operation state of the door hook 85 and the fuel filler lid 23 when
the fuel filler lid 23 is stuck during the opening operation.
[0088] In this embodiment, at a normal time, the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 when the fuel filler lid 23 is
opened/operated from the closed state changes in order from Lo to
Hi, Lo, and Hi as illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0089] As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, even if the door motor 86
is turned ON by operating the fuel filler lid switch 61 in order to
open the fuel filler lid 23 from the closed state of the fuel
filler lid 23, if the door motor 86 fails, the door hook 85 does
not move to the rear than the position B. Therefore, even when the
door motor 86 is turned ON by means of the operation of the fuel
filler lid switch 61, if the output of the door opening/closing
sensor 62 is maintained at the low voltage Lo, it can be determined
that movement of the door hook 85 is impossible since the door
motor 86 fails or rubbish or the like is bitten.
[0090] As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the door motor 86 is
kept ON for a predetermined time and the door hook 85 is operated
in the anti-protrusion direction, the fuel filler lid 23 is brought
into the open state. Then, when the door motor 86 is turned OFF,
the door hook 85 protrudes by the hook return spring 88 at a normal
time, the distal end 85a of the door hook 85 passes a regulated
position between the position A and the position B and moves more
to the front than the position A. However, if the hook return
spring 88 has abnormality such as breakage or the like, the door
hook 85 stays in the contracted state (position on the
anti-protrusion side). Therefore, it can be determined that the
hook return spring 88 is abnormal if, after the door motor 86 is
turned OFF from ON, the output of the door opening/closing sensor
62 keeps at the high voltage Hi.
[0091] As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, if the fuel filler lid 23
is stuck in the closed state due to freezing or abnormality of the
spring 75 or the like, when the door motor 86 is turned ON in order
to open the fuel filler lid 23, the door hook 85 is operated to the
anti-protrusion direction, but the fuel filler lid 23 is not
opened. Then, the door motor 86 is turned OFF, though the door hook
85 is extended/operated, the fuel filler lid 23 stays in the closed
state, and thus, the door hook 85 is regulated at the position
where protrusion is regulated by the left-and-right wall portion 81
of the door bracket 80. Therefore, even if the door motor 86 is
turned ON, when the fuel filler lid 23 stays in the closed state
and the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 changes from
the high voltage Hi to the low voltage Lo and maintained in that
state, it can be determined that the fuel filler lid 23 is stuck in
the closed state.
[0092] As illustrated in FIG. 15, if the door hook 85 and the door
bracket 80 interfere with each other, and the fuel filler lid 23 is
stuck during the opening operation, for example, the door hook 85
is brought into contact with the diagonal wall portion 83 of the
door bracket 80, and protrusion is prevented. In this case,
similarly to the case in which the fuel filler lid 23 is stuck in
the closed state as illustrated in FIG. 14, the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 changes. Therefore, if the door is
somewhat opened by turning ON the door motor 86, and the output of
the door opening/closing sensor 62 changes from the high voltage Hi
to the low voltage Lo and maintained in that state, it can be
determined that the fuel filler lid 23 is stuck in the closing
operation.
[0093] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, abnormality
determination is made from presence of an output waveform of the
door opening/closing sensor 62, but the abnormality determination
can be also made from a length of the waveform of the output.
[0094] FIG. 16 is a time chart illustrating an example of a change
of the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 in other
abnormalities.
[0095] When the fuel filler lid switch 61 is pressed and the fuel
filler lid 23 is opened, at a normal time, the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 changes in order from Lo to Hi, Lo, and
Hi, but since the door motor 86 is set to be ON for a certain
period of time, each output time (T1, T2, T3) of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 becomes substantially constant as
illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0096] If time Ta from the door motor 86 ON until the output of the
door opening/closing sensor 62 becomes the high voltage Hi, time Tb
while the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 is the high
voltage Hi, and time Tc until the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 changes from the high voltage Hi to the
low voltage Lo and returns to the high voltage Hi are outside the
time range in the normal time, respectively, the ECU 50 determines
it to be abnormal as illustrated in FIG. 16.
[0097] For example, if the time Ta is longer than time T1 at the
normal time, it can be determined that the door motor 86
deteriorates, while if the time Tb is longer than time T2 at the
normal time, it can be determined that the hook return spring 88
deteriorates and the spring constant lowers. Moreover, if the time
Ta, the time Tb, and the time Tc are longer than the time T1, T2,
and T3 at the normal time, it can be determined that sliding
resistance of the door hook 85 is large.
[0098] As described above, abnormality such as a failure of the
door motor 86, abnormality of the hook return spring 88, stuck of
the fuel filler lid 23 and the like can be determined on the basis
of the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 in the opening
operation of the fuel filler lid 23. The door opening/closing
sensor 62 is a sensor used for detecting opening/closing of the
fuel filler lid 23, and abnormality detection of the fuel filler
lid device 70 can be made with a simple configuration without
adding other sensors or the like.
[0099] Subsequently, operation determination of the emergency lever
87 will be explained.
[0100] FIG. 17 is an explanatory view illustrating a moved state of
the door hook 85 and the fuel filler lid 23 when the fuel filler
lid 23 is unlocked by the operation of the emergency lever 87. FIG.
18 is a time chart illustrating a change of the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 when the fuel filler lid 23 is unlocked
by the operation of the emergency lever 87.
[0101] When the fuel filler lid 23 is opened/operated by operating
the fuel filler lid switch 61, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the output
of the door opening/closing sensor 62 changes in order from Lo to
Hi, Lo, and Hi, but at this time, since the duration time T2 (first
predetermined time) of the high voltage Hi when the low voltage Lo
at the beginning becomes the high voltage Hi becomes substantially
constant time since the door motor 86 operates for a certain period
of time determined in advance.
[0102] Even when the door motor 86 is turned ON by operating the
fuel filler lid switch 61 in order to unlock the fuel filler lid
23, if the door hook 85 is not moved due to a failure of the door
motor 86, for example, and the fuel filler lid 23 is not opened, an
operator or the like operates the emergency lever 87 and manually
unlocks the fuel filler lid 23. At this time, the operation of the
emergency lever 87 is performed until the fuel filler lid 23 is
manually opened, and thus, the operation time becomes longer than
the normal operation time of the door motor 86.
[0103] Thus, the ECU 50 can determine that the fuel filler lid 23
is unlocked by the emergency lever 87 and opened/operated if the
output of the door opening/closing sensor 62 becomes the high
voltage Hi from the low voltage Lo at opening of the fuel filler
lid 23 and by measuring the time Tb when the output becomes the
high voltage Hi, and if this exceeds the operation time T2 by the
door motor 86.
[0104] As described above, the fact that the fuel filler lid 23 is
opened by the operation of the emergency lever 87 can be detected
by the output time of the output of the door opening/closing sensor
62.
[0105] If the output of the door opening/closing sensor 62
maintains the high voltage Hi for a predetermined time (second
predetermined time) or more without operating the fuel filler lid
switch 61, it can be estimated that the fuel filler lid 23 is
opened against the will of the operator or the like or the fuel
filler lid 23 is left in the open state. Thus, the ECU 50 has a
function of displaying an alarm on the display 63 so that the fuel
filler lid 23 is to be closed if the output of the door
opening/closing sensor 62 maintains the high voltage Hi for a
predetermined time (second predetermined time) or more without
operating the fuel filler lid switch 61. Then, in this embodiment,
if, moreover, it is determined that the fuel filler lid 23 is
opened/operated by the operation of the emergency lever 87 as
above, this alarm display is regulated not to be made. As a result,
the operator or the like can be prevented from being confused by
the alarm prompting closing of the fuel filler lid 23 even though
the fuel filler lid 23 is opened by the operation of the emergency
lever.
[0106] The embodiment of the invention has been explained but the
mode of the present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment.
[0107] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the position
of the door hook 85 is detected by the door opening/closing sensor
62 constituted integrally with the lid lock mechanism 65, but the
position of the distal end 85a of the door hook 85 may be detected
by a detection portion (a proximity sensor, a photoelectric sensor,
detection from an image and the like) provided separately from the
lid lock mechanism 65.
[0108] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the invention
of the present application is applied to the fuel filler lid device
of a sealed tank, but the invention of the present application may
be applied to a fuel filler lid device of a tank not sealed.
* * * * *